Earrings against sexism

By ANNE BESTON

Women will be ransacking their wardrobes and rattling through their jewellery boxes this week if they take up the challenge of Christine Rankin Day.

An e-mail message doing the rounds of Auckland businesses urges women to don their shortest skirt and biggest earrings on Friday to show solidarity with the embattled Winz boss. Headed "Women of the Workforce Unite," it encourages them to "show the sexist men of this country we will not tolerate their oppression."

It says Mrs Rankin has exposed blatant sexism within the public service, and should not be left to stand alone.

Most businesswomen the Herald contacted yesterday had not received the e-mail but - to a woman - they supported it. "Wonderful," said Deborah Hollings, an environmental lawyer. "Women should have freedom of choice about what they wear as long as they look professional, and I think Christine Rankin does."